Why unconscious bias matters to business

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Unconscious bias affects people and people are the heart of the business. In this video, the correlation between unconscious bias, its affects on our careers and the effects on business, are discussed with diversity and recruiting expert Stacey Gordon.

- Is a small amount of bias reallygoing to dramatically affect your workforce?The short answer, is yes.The long answer, still yes.Researchers from three universities collaboratedto create a computer simulationthat showed a one percent biasin favor of promoting men in the workplace.Now, you might think that beginningwith the same number of men and womenin entry level positions and applyinga one percent bias in promotionwouldn't change the expected 50/50 outcome.Tackling unconscious bias is necessaryto level the playing field.

Every decision made about a personfrom the time we're hired to the time we're promoted,passed over, get fired or quit.Each decision costs us and the company money.And the wrong decision sends us runningto the nearest online employer rating boardto post a negative review.The open source project from doesgenderbiasmatter.comlets you try out the simulation that mimics,not only the one percent bias in promotion,but bias at five and 10 percent as well.

The results are something we need to focus on.The initial simulation was only run at one percentand if you add promotions to the equation, things get worse.By adding in the bias that occurswhen the job description is written, recruiting begins,interviews take place, hiring decisions are made,and then promotions are considered,you compound the situation.A small amount of bias has a large impact on our careers.The effects are dramatic and exponential.

And as we continue to shine a light on unconscious bias,we need to also keep in mind that candidatesare beginning to make decisions about job offersbased on a company's reputationand management of diversity issues.As candidates, we have choices.So in order to remain competitive,businesses will need to addresseach aspect of the hiring process from start to finish.What aspect of the recruitment processwould you like to see modified?The next time you reject a job offerwill you inform the company their lack of diversityor reluctance to address bias factored into your decision?If you are a company looking to hire,how are you going to distinguish your companyas an employer of choice?

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Released

5/24/2017

We're all biased. Our experiences shape who we are, and our race, ethnicity, gender, height, weight, sexual orientation, place of birth, and other factors impact the lens with which we view the world. In this course, diversity expert Stacey Gordon helps you recognize and acknowledge your own biases so that you can identify them when making decisions, and prevent yourself from making calls based on a biased viewpoint. Stacey explains some of the most common forms that a bias takes: affinity bias, halo bias, perception bias, and confirmation bias. She helps you recognize the negative effects of bias within your organization, as well as the benefits to be realized by uncovering bias in decision-making processes. Finally, she outlines strategies for overcoming personal and organizational bias.